Key holder



J. E. LE FAVE Nov. 28, 1967 KEY HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1966 4 TTOR/VEYS 48 VIII /1 --sheet 2 2 Sheet JLLUI KEY HOLDER Nov. 28, 1967 Filed Aug. 12, 1966 Nl/E/VTOR TTORNEYS -minu- I Illlll United States Patent Oflice 3,354,557? Patented Nov. 28, 1967 3,354,679 KEY HOLDER James E. Le Fave, 4945 W. North Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60639 Filed Aug. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 572,131 9 Qlaims. (Cl. 7tl456) This invention relates generally to improvements in key holders having the general appearance of a pocket or clasp knife and more particularly, relates to a key holder of the character described having a very advantageous knockdown type of construction provided by a plurality of fiat plate or wall members connected together in spaced relationship to provide key retaining compartments and in which the number of key compartments can be selectively varied depending upon a larger or smaller number of wall or plate members assembled together.

The key holder embodying the invention is of the general character in which a plurality of plates are secured together spaced apart to provide the compartment for a key intermediate the pair of adjacent plates. At one end of the compartment is provided pivot means for engaging the ring hole in the key so that the key can be withdrawn from and returned to the compartment by pivotal movement around said pivot. Of course, more than one key compartment can be realized from this general arrangement.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel key holder of the character described which embodies important storage improvements and advantages over key holders previously known and used of this general character.

It is an object of this invention to provide a key holder which is constructed of a plurality of assembled plate or wall members of stock-type construction which can be varied in the number thereof used so that a key holder of larger or smaller number of key compartments can be realized using said stock-type wall members in different numbers and combinations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key holder of the character described in which the width of the compartment in which a key is stored is non-uniform with the compartment being narrowest in the vicinity of the pivot for the key.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key holder of the character described in which a novel spacing means is positioned between adjacent plate members which also divides the space between said plate members into a pair of key compartments.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a key holder as described having novel pivot means for keys in adjacent compartments which enables easy and rapid removal of the key from the key holder and insertion of a diiferent key into the vacated compartment.

Still other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a key holder which is economical, which is compact and easy to use, which is attractive and light in weight, and which permits the pivotal movement of a key into and from the compartment by means of a single finger readily and conveniently.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing disclosure in which a preferred embodiment has been described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference characters have been used to identify similar or identical parts throughout the severa. figures thereof, as follows:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the key holder embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of said key holder.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken through the key holdel along the line 33 of FIG. 2 and in the general direction indicated.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken through the key holder along the line 44 of FIG. 1 and in the general direction indicated.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken through the key holder to show the pivot means provided between a pair of adjacent compartments.

FIG. 6 is an exploded elevational view showing the stock plate or wall members from which a key holder embodying the invention can be formed to provide twelve compartments.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of a key holder embodying the invention having only two compartments.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing a key holder formed with four compartments.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 and showing a key holder formed with six compartments.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGS. 7-9 but showing a key holder formed with eight compartments.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 7-10 but showing a key holder formed with ten compartments.

Referring now to the drawings in FIG. 1, the key holder of the invention has been designated generally by the reference character 20. The key holder 20 is formed of a plurality of spaced wall or plate member of substantially identical configuration in plan view thereof although differing from each other in certain structural details. In its assembled condition as seen in FIG. 1, the key holder 20 is generally rectangular in configuration with the ends 22 of smaller dimension preferably being rounded. The opposite sides 24 each have an arcuate notch or recess 26, the notches 26 being at diagonally opposed corners of the key holder. The notches 26 provide access means for rotating a key into and out of a compartment in the key holder, such as key shown at 28 in FIG. 1 partially removed from a compartment in the key holder. The head or enlarged end 29 of the key protrudes beyond the arcuate edge of the recess 26 for engagement by the finger to rotate the bit 29a of the key out of the compartment.

As seen in FIG. 2, the key holder 20 has eight compartments arranged in parallel planes, there being a pair of compartments in a common plane, one on opposite sides of each spacer 30. The spacer 30 is best seen in FIG. 3 as comprised of a long, narrow, flat bar, the shank portion 32 of which is of uniform dimension and the opposite ends 34 of which are enlarged. The enlarged ends are perforated for accommodating screws or bolts for fastening the spacers and plates together. As seen in FIG. 4, the screws or bolts are comprised of two parts, there being a threaded shank part 36 with a head 38 and a tubular shank part 3% with a head 40. The threaded shank 36 is adapted to be engaged in the tubular shank 39 in a well-known manner.

The key holder 20 is formed of a pair of outside wall or plate members 42 and a plurality of intermediate paced apart by'the spacer means 30 and held in assembly |y the mated screw 36 .and tubular shank 39.

The outer walls 42 are of generally arcuate or flattened /'-shape and are arranged with the Vs opening one tovard the other. Thus, the space between the plates 42 Lt the apices S is greater than the distance between the dates at the ends 22 thereof.

The plates 44 and 48 are identical. These plates also tre of a highly flattened V-shape such that the opposite :nds thereof are divergent one relative to the other. The date 46 on'the-other hand is a flat straight plate as seen nFIGS. 4-.and 2.

Likewiseythe spacers 30 are thicker in their medial )ortion than.at.their enlarged ends 34. Each spacer 36 is trranged on a diagonal between apair of plates so as to lividethe space therebetween into a pair of key comartments. As best seen in FIG. 3, each enlarged end 34 slocatedat the juncture 33 of the arcuate edge 37 with he flat:side edge 39 of aplate spaced inwardlyfrom the nd' 22. Also, each end formation 34 is rounded to conform with the juncture 33. Thus, each compartment'on )ppositesides of a spacer 30 will have access to a notch 56 for manipulating the head 29 of a key protruding hereinto. Thus, when the plates are assembled-as shown 11 FIG. 2, thecompartments are formed between adja- :ent plates or wall members in which at the ends 22 of he plates, the spacing between wallsis less than at the nedial or middle portions of the facing wall or plate nembersfT-he purpose of such nonuniform widthkey :ompartments will be explained in detail hereinafter.

The pivot means for the head 29 of a key 28 is prorided by protrusions molded directly with theplate or vall .members 44 and 48. These are best seen in 'FIGS. l-and in which such a wall member 44 or 48is shown vitha protrusiommolded on opposite sides thereof, .said protrusion being designated 56'and 58, respectively, .for )ppositesides of the plate... As seen in.FIG. 4, the pro- :rusion58 is engaged in a ring hole provided in the head 59 of .the key.

.As seen in FIG. 3, because the spacing between adjazent plates is lesser. atthepivot means .58, thehead 29of be key can be tightly .engaged frictionally in a compartnentat that point so thatthe key does not come loose inadvertently from the compartment when stored therein. Pressure .on the head 290f the key at the notch 26 to ;pread the :facing wall members of-the compartment is required in order to displace the key from the compartnent.

Referring to FIG.6, a modified form of the invention is'shown'which enables key holders of different numbers of compartments to be formed from a plurality of standardize'd parts. "Referring to FIG. 6, the assembly of parts is designated generally 60 and maybe seen to comprise a pair-ofend plates-42a which are similar to the plates 42 of key holder-20. The plates 62 are substantially identical-except that theyare reversed in their orientation in the 'holder'60jThe plates 64areidentical and comprise straight flat members. The center plate 66 is a straight flat member but has molded thereon the spacer formations which will be-discussed.

-In the embodimentlLt-he spacers are molded directly on the plate member and these spacers are designated 68, 69 and 70, respectively. These are shaped in plan view similarly to spacer 30. The plate 62 is of very flattened V-shaped configuration and the spacer 68 conforms with that configuration and having its apex on the same side as the apex of the plate 62. The spacer formation'69 is flattened on its-face 72 which is the outside face thereof and will conform with the flat plate 64 opposite thereto. On the other hand,-the spacer68 will conform with the configuration of the outside plate or wall 42a.

The spacer formation .70 on the'plate 66 likewisehas planar outside-facenWhen assembled together, the spacer formations will .abut a conforming surface of a side plate adjacent thereto with the key compartments being formed intermediate adjacent plate or wall members, a pair of compartments on each side of a spacer formation.

The molded protrusions 56, 58 are provided on opposite ends of the plates 62, 66, and assembled together, the foregoing plate members form a twelve compartment key holder designated 60.

In FIG. 7, a key holder has been formed which will have two compartments, said key holder being formed by a pair of outside wall members 4211 between which is sandwiched a plate member 62a which is similar to the plate 62 except that it does not have the protrusion 58 or the spacer formation 69.

In FIG. 8, a four-compartment key holder has been formed by means of outside plates 42a and an intermediate plate or wall 62b, the wall 6212 being similar to the Wall 62 with the exception that it has two spacer formations 68 on opposite sides thereof instead of the spacer formation 69 on one side thereof.

Likewise, the various plates can be assembled to form the key holders of different numbers of compartments shown in FIGS. 9, 10'and 11, respectively. Numbers have been assigned to the parts thereof to show the assembly of plate members which will be used to form the respective key holder. The specific fastening means 36, 38, 39 and 40 have been omitted in these FIGS. 6 through 11 for purposes of clarity, but it will be understood that such fasteningmeans will be employed to engage through the spacer formation'for securingtogether the various plates and'the axial length thereof can be selected to correspond with the thickness of the holder in which used.

It will thus be seen that Ihave provided a novel key holder .formed of a series of .preformed plates or wall members and spacer meansseparating adjacentwall members into compartments. The wall or plate members preferably areformedof plastic and. have sufficient resilience to permit separation of adjacent wall members and theirends inthe vicinity of the pivot means 56, 58 so that a key head .29 can .beinserted therebetween to engage the opening60 thereof with the pivot protrusion. Also, keys of different thicknesses can beused becauseof the clamping action at the pivot means againstthe-heads of the .keys. The bolts. function .as tension members to draw the plates together at these pivot locations.

Likewise, because .the .protrusion is rounded as indicated at "70, the .key can be removed easily and inserted again byspreadingapart the facing ends of-the adjacent walls. The .compartments can accommodate different lengths of keys also.

.It is believed .that the invention :has been described in sufficient detail to enable the skilled artisan to understand and practice the same. The invention has been pointed out in the claims appended hereto in language intended to be construed broadly commensurate with the achievements represented thereby.

What it is desired to secure by Letters'Patent is:

1. A 'key holder comprising:

(i) -a plurality-of plate members of similar configuration secured together in spaced parallel planes and having a pair of oppositeends and oppositelongitudinal edges,

(ii) fastening means secured through said plate members adjacent to and spaced inwardly .of said ends,

(iii) spacer members of similar configuration between said plate members,

each spacer member comprising an elongate strip having enlarged opposite-end portions and a medial'body portion which is thicker in crosssection than that of theend portion,

(iv) said fastening means extending through said end portions with the thickness of the opposite ends of the holder being less than that of -the.holder between said ends,

(v) said spacerrmembers being secured diagonally between said plate members to provide a key compartment between each pair of adjacent plate members on opposite sides of the spacer member,

(vi) key pivot means in each compartment adapted to engage the head of a key for pivotal movement of the bit of the key into and out of the compartment,

(vii) said plate members having arcuate notches in said longitudinal edges and extending between said fastening means and the adjacent end of the holder, said notches being aligned with the compartments to enable the head of a key to be engaged for selectively pivoting the key into and out of a compartment.

2. A key holder as described in claim 1 in which the spacer members are integral with certain of the plate members.

3. A key holder as described in claim 1 in which the key compartment is smaller in width at the end thereof adjacent said pivot means. I

4. A key holder as described in claim 2 in which said pivot means comprise protrusions on a plate member common to a pair of compartments.

5. A key holder as described in claim 1 in which the key holder has outside walls and each of said outside walls has a substantially flattened V-shape with the Vs opening one toward the other.

7. A key holder as described in claim 5 in which said plate members are standardized in construction thereof for selective assembly into key holders with difiering numbers of key compartments.

8. A key holder as described in claim 1 in which said spacer members are of suflicient length to extend the distance between said notches.

9. A key holder as described in claim 8 in which the plate members are formed of a plastic material having limited resilience.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,493,689 5/ 1924 Marcus 45 6 2,245,381 6/ 1941 Biggs 7045 6 2,274,820 3/ 1942 Bills 7045 6 2,540,819 2/ 1951 Glass 70-456 2,560,595 7/1951 Poncar 70-456 2,607,210 8/ 1952 Chesak 70-456 2,764,202 9/ 1956 Jackson -40 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

6. A key holder as described in claim 5 in which the 25 P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

spacer members are separable from the plate members. 

1. A KEY HOLDER COMPRISING: (I) A PLURALITY OF PLATE MEMBERS OF SIMILAR CONFIGURATION SECURED TOGETHER IN SPACED PARALLEL PLANES AND HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITE ENDS AND OPPOSITE LONGITUNDINAL EDGES, (II) FASTENING MEANS SECURED THROUGH SAID PLATE MEMBERS ADJACENT TO AND SPACED INWARDLY OF SAID ENDS, (III) SPACER MEMBERS OF SIMILAR CONFIGURATION BETWEEN SAID PLATE MEMBERS, EACH SPACER MEMBERS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED STRIP HAVING ENLARGED OPPOSITE END PORTIONS AND A MEDIAL BODY PORTION WHICH IS THICKER IN CROSSSECTION THAN THAT OF THE END PORTION, (IV) SAID FASTENING MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID END PORTIONS WITH THE THICKNES OF THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE HOLDER BEING LESS THAN THAT OF THE HOLDER BETWEEN SAID ENDS, (V) SAID SPACER MEMBERS BEING SECURED DIAGONALLY BETWEEN SAID PLATE MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A KEY COMPARTMENT BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT PLATE MEMBERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SPACER MEMBER, (VI) KEY PIVOT MEANS IN EACH COMPARTMENT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE HEAD OF A KEY FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE BIT OF THE KEY INTO AND OUT OF THE COMPARTMENT, (VII) SAID PLATE MEMBERS HAVING ARCUATE NOTCHES IN SAID LONGITUDINAL EDGES AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FASTENING MEANS AND IN ADJACENT END OF THE HOLDERS, SAID NOTCHES BEING ALIGNED WITH THE COMPARTMENTS TO ENABLE THE HEAD OF A KEY TO BE ENGAGED FOR SELECTIVELY PIVOTING THE KEY INTO AND OUT OF A COMPARTMENT. 